🇰🇪 Kenyan · Traditional Snacks
🍟 Kenyan Sweet Cassava Chips
Chips za Muhogo Tamu
Kenyan Sweet Cassava Chips — thin cassava slices boiled briefly then deep-fried until golden and crispy, tossed in cinnamon sugar while hot. A sweet-savoury Kenyan snack with a naturally creamy interior and wonderfully crunchy exterior.
Sweet cassava chips take the cassava chip concept in a dessert direction — the cinnamon sugar coating applied while the chips are hot creates a lightly caramelised, fragrant surface that makes them completely addictive. They sit happily between snack and dessert, equally at home with tea or as an after-school treat.
Ingredients
Equipment: Large saucepan, Mandoline or sharp knife, Deep frying pan, Paper towels
- 500g fresh cassava — peeled
- Oil for deep frying
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
- Pinch of nutmeg — optional
Method
- Peel cassava, remove the woody central fibre, and slice into thin rounds (3—4mm).
- Pre-boil the cassava slices in salted water for 8—10 minutes until just partially tender. Drain and dry thoroughly.
- Mix sugar, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg in a bowl. Set aside.
- Heat oil to 175°C.
- Fry cassava slices in batches for 3—4 minutes until golden and crispy.
- Remove immediately and drain briefly.
- While still hot, toss in the cinnamon sugar mixture.
- Serve immediately.
Chef Tips
- Pre-boiling is essential for cassava chips — raw cassava will not cook through in frying time.
- Dry thoroughly after boiling — wet cassava spatters dangerously in hot oil.
- Season immediately while hot — the sugar adheres and lightly caramelises on the warm surface.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Skipping the pre-boil — raw inside.
- Wet cassava in the fryer — dangerous splatter.
- Not seasoning while hot — the cinnamon sugar does not adhere.
The Science
Pre-boiling gelatinises the cassava starch, creating the characteristically creamy interior. The subsequent frying dehydrates the exterior and creates the crunchy shell through Maillard browning.
Nutrition (per serving)
Health Benefits
- Cassava provides complex carbohydrates.
- Naturally gluten-free.
- Cinnamon has blood sugar-regulating properties.
Cultural Note
Sweet cassava chips are a beloved coastal and increasingly national snack that showcases the versatility of cassava — Kenya's most underrated root vegetable.
Storage & Serving
Storage: Best eaten immediately — loses crispiness within an hour.
Reheating: Oven at 190°C for 5 minutes.
Serve with: Kenyan Masala Chai, As a standalone snack, With fresh fruit